Clattenburg Appointed Cup Final Referee

5 May 2016

Mark Clattenburg has been named as the referee for the 2016 FA Cup final between Crystal Palace and Manchester United.

His appointment marks the first time the Consett-born official will take charge of the showpiece game, despite having overseen the 2012 Olympic final and the 2012 League Cup final, and is set to be England's representative at Euro 2016 this summer.

The 41-year-old has been the man in the middle for three of the Eagles' Premier League games this season - the defeats to West Ham United and Aston Villa and the 2-2 draw at Upton Park last month - but he was in charge of the FA Cup fourth round win against Stoke City.

He has also been appointed referee for four Manchester United games in 2015/16 which saw them beat Southampton and Liverpool and draw against Manchester City and West Ham.

Clattenburg said: “It came out of the blue. These days you get told of what games you're doing by text, but when you see a call coming in from the FA referees’ department you know it's important.

“I think every referee who hasn't refereed the cup final works hard every season to hopefully referee one of the most prestigious and important cup finals in the world.

“You set yourself goals at the start of the season, and mine was to referee in the FA Cup final. It’s an honour and a massive achievement.”